George Kambosos Dropped the Ball, but Boxing in Australia is on the Rise

Published

2 years ago

June 17, 2022

George-Kambosos-Dropped-the-Ball-but-Boxing-in-Australia-is-on-the-Rise

In November of last year, George Kambosos Jr overcame a 10th-round knockdown to upend unified lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez in one of the biggest upsets of 2021. With his gritty and ultimately triumphant effort, Kambosos became an overnight sensation in the Land Down Under, but the Sydneysider of Greek heritage proved to be a one-trick pony. In his first title defense on June 5 at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, Kambosos was outclassed by Devin Haney.

Australian boxing fans, however, still have plenty to cheer about. In fact, the sport in Australia is healthier now than it has been in quite some time.

Kambosos briefly stole the spotlight from TIM TSZYU (21-0, 15 KOs) whose next fight will come against undisputed 154-pound world champion Jermell Charlo. The camps of both fighters have agreed to terms. Yet to be decided is the date and venue.

Tszyu is the son of the great Kostya Tszyu, a first ballot Hall of Famer. Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) is the twin brother of undefeated middleweight champion Jermall Charlo.

By and large, the greatest champions in boxing history have been lethal in rematches. Jermell Charlo erased the two blemishes on his record – a loss to Tony Harrison and a draw with Brian Castano – in grand style. He TKOed both when he caught up with them again.

If Tszyu-Charlo lands in the U.S. as expected, it will be the Aussie’s second engagement on U.S. soil. In March, at Minneapolis, he won a 12-round unanimous decision over former U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha. Tszyu showed great fortitude in bouncing back from a first-round knockdown to take control of the fight, but he did expose some vulnerabilities. In early man-to-man betting, Charlo is a 5/2 favorite.

Jay Opetaia

Jay Opetaia challenges long-reigning cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis at the Gold Coast Convention Center in Broadbeach, Queensland on July 2. It’s a big jump in class for the Sydney southpaw. Briedis has lost only once in 29 fights and in that defeat back in January of 2018 he battled Olekandr Usyk on nearly even terms, losing a majority decision.

Opetaia

Opetaia, who is of Samoan and European Australian descent, is undefeated (21-0, 17 KOs). He has yet to defeat an opponent with a recognizable name outside the Antipodes, but neither has he been coddled. His last 10 opponents had winning records. At age 26, he is 11 years younger than Briedis and will have the crowd in his corner.

The Moloney Twins

The best twins in boxing aside from the Charlo brothers, Australia’s Moloneys (pictured) assuaged the hurt of George Kambosos’s poor showing with impressive victories in supporting bouts. Jason blasted out his opponent in the third round. Andrew’s opponent decided he had had enough and called it quits after only two frames.

The twins have identical 24-2 records although Andrew has had one more fight, a controversial no-decision in a match that he was winning with three-time foe Joshua Franco. Both are undefeated in non-title fights and, at age 31, it seems as if they haven’t quite yet reached their peak.

Liam Paro and Brock Jarvis

Liam Paro (22-0, 17 KOs) and Brock Jarvis (20-0, 18 KOs) were seated on the dais today at a formal press conference in Brisbane. Seated between the two junior welterweights was promoter Eddie Hearn who was there to announce that Paro, 26, and Jarvis, 24, would headline Matchroom’s first-ever show in Australia. The details are still being hammered out but the event will happen sometime in September.

Paro went on the road in his last bout and got off the deck to win a split decision over Puerto Rico’s Yomar Alamo in a battle of unbeatens at Tampa, Florida. A southpaw of Italian descent, he is currently ranked #1 at 140 pounds by the WBO and #3 by the IBF.

Brock Jarvis also had his most recent fight in the U.S. He overcame a very rough patch to score a fifth-round TKO over Mexico’s Alejandro Frias Rodriguez on a show in Fresno, California. It was his first fight at 135 after starting his career as a bantamweight and he will move up another notch for Paro.

Jarvis is a protégé of Jeff Fenech who is widely considered Australia’s greatest native-born boxer. In fact, Jarvis’s grandmother was Fenech’s dietician and nutritionist during Jeff’s fighting days.

Jarvis and Fenech

Demsey McKean

A six-foot-six southpaw with an MMA background, McKean is penciled in for the undercard on Hearn’s September show. It will be his third fight under the Matchroom umbrella.

McKean is undefeated (21-0, 13 KOs) but the jury is still out on him. His best win was a 10^th-round stoppage of gatekeeper-turned-fringe-contender Jonnie Rice who gassed out and was stopped with seconds to go in the match.

McKean spent most of last year in England where he got excellent sparring as a member of Anthony Joshua’s camp.

Justis Huni

Folks were very high on Justis Huni’s chances in the Tokyo Olympics and were greatly disappointed when Huni was forced to pull out with a hand injury. A bout with Covid subsequently stalled his pro career.

Huni returned to the ring earlier this week after a 12-month absence and defeated countryman Joseph Goodall. While Huni was expected to win, he wasn’t expected to win as easily. Carrying 242 ½ pounds on his six-foot-four frame, he won all 10 rounds in the eyes of one of the judges. The aforementioned Jeff Fenech, working as a TV commentator, described his performance as a masterclass.

The 23-year-old Huni, who is from Brisbane and regularly spars with reinvigorated Lucas Browne, is of Tongan and Samoan-Dutch descent. Undefeated as a pro (6-0, 4 KOs) he is seemingly on a collision course with Demsey McKean and if both are still unbeaten when they finally collide, it will be a huge event in Australia.

New Kids on the Block

Tim Tszyu had a very limited amateur background. Not so his younger brother NIKITA TSZYU, 24, who was a four-time Australian amateur champion.

Nikita turned his back on boxing to pursue a college degree in architecture and was away from the sport for five years. He made his pro debut in March and is currently 2-0 with both wins coming inside the distance.

Nikita is a junior middleweight like his brother but, unlike his brother, he is a southpaw. He reportedly packs a harder punch than Tim. Yet to be determined is whether he has the same dedication.

At the Tokyo Olympics, HARRY GARSIDE became Australia’s first medalist in boxing in 33 years. Garside won bronze in the 139-pound class after losing to Cuba’s brilliant Andy Cruz in the semis. Cruz is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the amateur ranks.

Garside is 3-0 (2) at the pro level. His second pro fight, a 10-rounder, was billed for the Australian lightweight title. Outside the ring, Garside, a plumber by trade, is an interesting cat. An ally of the LGBTQ community, Garside allows that if he hadn’t become infatuated with boxing, he may have pursued a career in ballet. His long-range goal is to participate in the 2032 Summer Olympics which will be held in Brisbane.

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Arne K. Lang

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 190: Beterbiev vs. Smith, the Honda Center and More

Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2024

David A. Avila

Floyd-Schofield-Wins-a-Banger-and Gabriella-Fundora-Wins-by-KO

Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO

LAS VEGAS-Shades of Henry Armstrong and Baby Arizmendi. If you don’t know those names, look them up.

Floyd Schofield battled his way past Mexico’s super tough Rene Tellez Giron who walked through every blow the Texan could fire but lost by decision on Saturday.

It was a severe test and perfect matchmaking for Schofield who yearns for the big bouts against the lightweight giants roaming the world.

Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs) remains undefeated and won the war over thick-necked Mexican Tellez Giron (20-4, 13 KOs) who has never been knocked out and proved to be immune to big punches.

In the opening rounds, the Texas fighter came out firing rapid combinations from the southpaw and orthodox stances. Meanwhile the shorter Tellez Giron studied and fired back an occasional counter for two rounds.

Tellez Giron had seen enough and took his stand in the third stanza. Both unleashed blazing bombs with Schofield turning his back to the Mexican. At that moment referee Tom Taylor could have waved the fight over.

You never turn your back.

The fight resumed and Schofield was damaged. He tried to open up with even more deadly fire but was rebuked by the strong chin of Tellez Giron who fired back in the mad frenzy.

For the remainder of the fight Schofield tried every trick in his arsenal to inflict damage on the thick-necked Mexican. He could not be wobbled. In the 11^th round both opened up with serious swing-from-the-heels combinations and suddenly Schofield was looking up. He beat the count easily and the two remained slugging it out.

“He hit me with a good shot,” Schofield said of the knockdown. “I just had to get up. I’m not going to quit.”

In the final round Schofield moved around looking for the proper moment to engage. The Mexican looked like a cat ready to pounce and the two fired furious blows. Neither was hit with the big bombs in the last seconds.

There was Tellez Giron standing defiantly like Baby Arizmendi must have stood in those five ferocious meetings against the incomparable Henry Armstrong. Three of their wars took place in Los Angeles, two at the Olympic Auditorium in the late 1930s as the U.S. was emerging from the Great Depression.

In this fight, Schofield took the win by unanimous decision by scores 118-109 twice and 116-111. It was well-deserved.

“I tried to bang it out,” said Schofield. “Today I learned you can’t always get the knockout.”

Fundora

IBF flyweight titlist Gabriela Fundora needed seven rounds to figure out the darting style of Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz before firing a laser left cross down the middle to end the battle and become the undisputed flyweight world champion.

Fundora now holds all four titles including the WBO, WBA and WBC titles that Alaniz brought in the ring.

Fundora knocked down Alaniz midway through the seventh round. She complained it was due to a tangle of the legs. Several seconds later Fundora blasted the Argentine to the floor again with a single left blast. This time there was no doubt. Her corner wisely waved a white towel to stop the fight at 1:40 of the seventh round.

No one argued the stoppage.

Other Bouts

Bektemir Melikuziev (15-1, 10 KOs) didn’t make weight in a title bout but managed to out-fight David Stevens (14-2, 10 KOs) in a super middleweight fight held at 12 rounds.

Melikuziev used his movement and southpaw stance to keep Pennsylvania’s Stevens from being able to connect with combinations. But Stevens did show he could handle “The Bully’s” punching power over the 12-round fight.

After 12 rounds one judge favored Stevens 116-112, while two others saw Melikuziev the winner by split decision 118-110 and 117-111.

Super middleweight WBA titlist Darius Fulghum (13-0, 11 KOs) pummeled his way to a technical knockout win over southpaw veteran Chris Pearson (17-5-1, 12 KOs) who attempted the rope-a-dope strategy to no avail.

Fulghum floored Pearson in the first round with a four-punch combination and after that just belted Pearson who covered up and fired an occasional blow. Referee Mike Perez stopped the fight at 1:02 of the third round when Pearson did not fire back after a blazing combination.

Young welterweight prospect Joel Iriarte (5-0, 5 KOs) blasted away at the three-inch shorter Xavier Madrid (5-6, 2 KOs) who hung tough for as long as possible. At 2:50 of the first round a one-two delivered Madrid to the floor and referee Thomas Taylor called off the beating.

Iriarte, from Bakersfield, Calif., could not miss with left uppercuts and short rights as New Mexico’s Madrid absorbed every blow but would not quit. It was just too much firepower from Iriarte that forced the stoppage.

Photos credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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Results and Recaps from Turning Stone where O’Shaquie Foster Nipped Robson Conceicao

Published

2 days ago

November 2, 2024

Arne K. Lang

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Top Rank was at the Turning Stone casino-resort in Verona, New York, tonight with an 8-bout card topped by a rematch between Robson Conceicao and O’Shaquie Foster with the victor retaining or recapturing his IBF world junior lightweight title. When the smoke cleared, the operative word was “recapturing” as Foster became a two-time title-holder, avenging his controversial setback to the Brazilian in Newark on July 6.

This was a somewhat better fight than their initial encounter and once again the verdict was split. Foster prevailed by 115-113 on two of the cards with the dissenting judge favoring Conceicao by the same margin. Conceicao seemingly had the edge after nine frames, but Foster, a 4/1 favorite, landed the harder shots in the championship rounds.

It was the thirteenth victory in the last 14 starts for Foster who fights out of Houston. A two-time Olympian and 2016 gold medalist, the 36-year-old Conceicao is 19-3-1 overall and 1-3-1 in world title fights.

Semi-wind-up

SoCal lightweight Raymond Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) made a big jump in public esteem and moved one step closer to a world title fight with a second-round blast-out of Jose Antonio Perez who was on the canvas twice but on his feet when the fight was stopped at the 1:24 mark of round two. Muratalla, a product of Robert Garcia’s boxing academy, is ranked #2 by the WBC and WBO. A Tijuana native, Perez (25-6) earned this assignment with an upset of former Olympian and former 130-pound world titlist Jojo Diaz,

Other Bouts

Syracuse junior welterweight Bryce Mills, a high-pressure fighter with a strong local following, stopped scrawny Mike O’Han Jr whose trainer Mark DeLuca pulled him out after five one-sided rounds. Mills improved to 17-1 (6 KOs). It was another rough day at the office for Massachusetts house painting contractor O’’Han (19-4) who had the misfortune of meeting Abdullah Mason in his previous bout.

In a junior lightweight fight that didn’t heat up until late in the final round, Albany’s Abraham Nova (23-3-1) and Tijuana native Humberto Galindo (14-3-3) fought to a 10-round draw. It was another close-but-no- cigar for the likeable Nova who at least stemmed a two-fight losing streak. The judges had it 97-93 (Galindo), 96-94 (Nova) and 95-95.

Twenty-one-year-old Long Island middleweight Jahi Tucker advanced to 13-1-1 (6 KOs) with an eighth-round stoppage of Stockton’s teak-tough but outclassed Quilisto Madera (14-6). Madera was on a short leash after five rounds, but almost took it to the final bell with the referee intervening with barely a minute remaining in the contest. Madera was on his feet when the match was halted. Earlier in the round, Tucker had a point deducted for hitting on the break.

Danbury, Connecticut heavyweight Ali Feliz, one of two fighting sons of journeyman heavyweight Fernely Feliz, improved to 4-0 (3) with a second-round stoppage of beefy Rashad Coulter (5-5). Feliz had Coulter pinned against the ropes and was flailing away when the bout was halted at the 1:34 mark. The 42-year-old Coulter, a competitor in all manner of combat sports, hadn’t previously been stopped when competing as a boxer.

Featherweight Yan Santana dominated and stopped Mexico’s Eduardo Baez who was rescued by referee Charlie Fitch at the 1:57 mark of round four. It was the 12^th knockout in 13 starts for Santana, a 24-year-old Dominican father of three A former world title challenger, Mexicali’s Baez declines to 23-7-2 but has lost six of his last eight.

In his most impressive showing to date, Damian Knyba, a six-foot-seven Pole, knocked out paunchy Richard Lartey at the 2:10 mark of round three. A right-left combination knocked Lartey into dreamland, but it was the right did the damage and this was of the nature of a one-punch knockout. Referee Ricky Gonzalez waived the fight off without starting a count.

Knyba, 28, improved to 14-0 (8 KOs). A native of Ghana coming off his career-best win, a fourth-round stoppage of Polish veteran Andrzej Wawrzyk, Lartey declined to 16-7 with his sixth loss inside the distance.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 303: Spotlights on Lightweights and More

Published

3 days ago

November 1, 2024

David A. Avila

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Those lightweights.

Whether junior lights, super lights or lightweights, it’s the 130-140 divisions where most of boxing’s young stars are found now or in the past.

Think Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather.

Floyd Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) a Texas product, hungers to be a star and takes on Mexico’s Rene Tellez Giron (20-3, 13 KOs) in a 12-round lightweight bout on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.

DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotion card that includes a female undisputed flyweight championship match pitting Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz and Gabriela Fundora.

Like a young lion looking to flex, Schofield (pictured on the left) is eager to meet all the other young lions and prove they’re not equal.

“I’ve been in the room with Shakur, Tank. I want to give everyone a good fight. I feel like my preparation is getting better, I work hard, I’ve dedicated my whole life to this sport,” said Schofield naming fellow lightweights Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

Now he meets Mexico’s Tellez who has never been stopped.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” said Tellez.

Even in Las Vegas.

Verona, New York

Meanwhile, in upstate New York, a WBC junior lightweight title rematch finds Robson Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) looking to prove superior to former titlist O’Shaquie Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank fight card.

Last July, Conceicao and Foster clashed and after 12 rounds the title changed hands from Foster to the Brazilian by split decision.

“I feel that a champion is a fighter who goes out there and doesn’t run around, who looks for the fight, who tries to win, and doesn’t just throw one or two punches and then moves away,” said Conceicao.

Foster disagrees.

“I hope he knows the name of the game is to hit and not get hit. That’s the name of the game,” said Foster.

Also on the same card is lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla (21-0, 16 KOs) who fights Mexico’s Jesus Perez Campos (25-5, 18 KOs).

Perez recently defeated former world champion Jojo Diaz last February in California.

“We’re made for challenges. I like challenges,” said Perez.

Muratalla likes challenges too.

“I think these fights are the types of fights I need to show my skills and to prove I deserve those title fights,” said Fontana’s Muratalla.

Female Undisputed Flyweight Championship

WBA, WBC and WBO flyweight titlist Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs meets IBF titlist Gabriela Fundora (14-0, 6 KOs) on Saturday Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. DAZN will stream the clash for the undisputed flyweight championship.

Argentina’s Alaniz clashed twice against former WBA, WBC champ Marlen Esparza with their first encounter ending in a dubious win for the Texas fighter. In fact, three of Esparza’s last title fights were scored controversially.

But against Alaniz, though they fought on equal terms, Esparza was given a 99-91 score by one of the judges though the world saw a much closer contest. So, they fought again, but the rematch took place in California. Two judges deemed Alaniz the winner and one Esparza for a split-decision win.

“I’m really happy to be here representing Argentina. We are ready to fight. Nothing about this fight has to do with Marlen. So, I hope she (Fundora) is ready. I am ready to prepare myself for the great fight of my life,” said Alaniz.

In the case of Fundora, the extremely tall American fighter at 5’9” in height defeated decent competition including Maria Santizo. She was awarded a match with IBF flyweight titlist Arely Mucino who opted for the tall youngster over the dangerous Kenia Enriquez of Mexico.

Bad choice for Mucino.

Fundora pummeled the champion incessantly for five rounds at the Inglewood Forum a year ago. Twice she battered her down and the fight was mercifully stopped. Fundora’s arm was raised as the new champion.

Since that win Fundora has defeated Christina Cruz and Chile’s Daniela Asenjo in defense of the IBF title. In an interesting side bit: Asenjo was ranked as a flyweight contender though she had not fought in that weight class for seven years.

Still, Fundora used her reach and power to easily handle the rugged fighter from Chile.

Immediately after the fight she clamored for a chance to become undisputed.

“It doesn’t get better than this, especially being in Las Vegas. This is the greatest opportunity that we can have,” said Fundora.

It should be exciting.

Fights to Watch

Sat. ESPN+ 2:50 p.m. Robson Conceicao (19-2-1) vs O’Shaquie Foster (22-3).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Floyd Schofield (17-0) vs Rene Tellez Giron (20-3); Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) vs Gabriela Fundora (14-0).

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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